Decide on a place in your house where you can put things for the next day. The FlyLady calls this your Launch Pad. It is usually close to your main entry of the house. You are going to use this every night.

Shine Your Sink (Are you enjoying having a Shiny Sink every morning when you get up?)

We are going to work on our Before Bed Routine this month. This is the most important routine of the day. It gets you ready for the next day. This will help you start your day off on the right foot. You will start this routine right after dinner each night.

Decide on a place in your house where you can put things for the next day. The FlyLady calls this your Launch Pad. It is usually close to your main entry of the house. You are going to use this every night.

Shine Your Sink (Are you enjoying having a Shiny Sink every morning when you get up?)

We are going to work on our Before Bed Routine this month. This is the most important routine of the day. It gets you ready for the next day. This will help you start your day off on the right foot. You will start this routine right after dinner each night.

Decide on a place in your house where you can put things for the next day. The FlyLady calls this your Launch Pad. It is usually close to your main entry of the house. You are going to use this every night.

Shine Your Sink (Are you enjoying having a Shiny Sink every morning when you get up?)

Last week, I had an appointment that took me out of the house for the day. I asked my 16-year-old to start the slow cooker for me while I was out. My boys love anything that has buffalo sauce on it, so I picked out the Buffalo Chicken from the freezer and put it out to thaw.

Here are the prep pics from the day I put these freezer meals together. The effort and planning have been worth it. I have saved time and money, and this is something that I will continue to prepare for my family on a regular basis. We have also really liked the recipes, too. I don’t have a finished picture of this meal because they ate it before I got home. That is always a good sign that a recipe is good!

Start the Day off with a Shiny Sink. Don’t leave the breakfast dishes sitting.

Zone Focus: Front Porch

This is going to be a fun project today. Clear your porch off and get out the water hose. Get the children involved and let them help you wash down the front porch and have some water play at the same time. As you put things put back into place, make your porch look inviting.

School:

Look at your overall school schedule and divide the work up monthly and weekly.

Get your weeks of school picked out.

Remember to schedule some breaks.

If you start early in August, you will be able to have a longer Christmas break and end school at the end of May.

Afternoon Routine:

Eat Lunch

Clear off One Hot Spot

Reboot the Laundry

Declutter for 15 Minutes (Be sure to have your children declutter, too.)

We are going to work on our Before Bed Routine this month. This is the most important routine of the day. It gets you ready for the next day. This will help you start your day off on the right foot. You will start this routine right after dinner each night.

Decide on a place in your house where you can put things for the next day. The FlyLady calls this your Launch Pad. It is usually close to your main entry of the house. You are going to use this every night.

Shine Your Sink (Are you enjoying having a Shiny Sink every morning when you get up?)

During late June and early July, the wild blackberries are ripe in North Carolina. I go out early in the morning to pick blackberries. Our favorite family recipe for them is Blackberry Cobbler.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter (melted)

1-1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 cup self-rising flour

1 cup milk (2% is what I use)

2 cups fresh blackberries (frozen will work)

Use a small 12″ x 8″ baking dish and lightly grease the pan

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Farenheit

In a medium bowl, measure one cup of sugar and one cup of self-rising flour. Add one cup of milk and wisk together. Add 1/2 cup melted butter and wisk together. Pour into the glass baking dish and add 2 cups of blackberries. Top with 1/4 cup of granulated sugar. Place into oven that is pre-heated to 350 degrees. Bake for 55 to 65 minutes or until top is golden brown.

Monday – Set your timer for 15 minutes for the Home Assignment and 15 minutes for the School Assignment. Remember that our Monday schedule is a little more involved than the rest of the week. You can spread the Weekly Home Blessing Hour out over the course of the week, if you like.

Home:

Morning Routine

Make Your Bed

Get Dressed Down to Your Shoes

Swish and Swipe

Start Your Laundry

Decide on Dinner

Check Your Calendar

Start the Day off with a Shiny Sink. Don’t leave the breakfast dishes sitting.

Weekly Home Blessing Hour:

Wash Bedding

Sweep and Mop

Vacuum

Dust

Purge Magazines

Empty Trash

Windows and Mirrors

School:

Look at your overall school schedule and divide the work up monthly and weekly.

Get your weeks of school picked out.

Remember to schedule some breaks.

If you start early in August, you will be able to have a longer Christmas break and end school at the end of May.

Afternoon Routine:

Eat Lunch

Clear off One Hot Spot

Reboot the Laundry

Declutter for 15 Minutes (Be sure to have your children declutter, too.)

We are going to work on our Before Bed Routine this month. This is the most important routine of the day. It gets you ready for the next day. This will help you start your day off on the right foot. You will start this routine right after dinner each night.

Decide on a place in your house where you can put things for the next day. The FlyLady calls this your Launch Pad. It is usually close to your main entry of the house. You are going to use this every night.

Shine Your Sink (Are you enjoying having a Shiny Sink every morning when you get up?)

Earlier this week, I pulled out the pack to thaw to make Raspberry Chipotle Chicken. We have had Vacation Bible School at our church this week, and I need a time-saver meal plan for each night of the week. What I found with these freezer meals being ready to thaw and cook is that I can have a hot meal on the table each night with little fuss and preparation. I have served fresh salad and fruit with my entrees, so it has been easy-peasy to have a healthy meal before we go to church. One night I timed my prep time, serve time, and clean up time. I was able to get a meal on the table and clean up in less than an hour.

Now, I am sure you want to know how this tastes. My family enjoyed the flavor of the chicken legs. It was sweet from the raspberry jam and had a little heat from the chipotles. It was a good mix for my family. The next time I make these, I need to include more chicken legs. I did prepare these in the slow cooker, but I think they would be delicious prepared on the grill, too.

Prep day a few weeks ago.

So far, I feel like I have saved time and money with this project. I spent $25 last weekend on perishables at the grocery store, and I spent $20 this week so far. These were mostly breakfast items, and I will need to go out this weekend to buy more fresh fruit and veggies.

I hope this inspires you to find ways to save time and money this summer. I am having a great time with it!

Congratulations! You are at the end of week 4! I will be continuing this summer. I will add new things to your routines as we go along. Before you know it, you will have made these routines habits in your life.

Friday – Set your timer for 15 minutes for the Home Assignment and 15 minutes for the School Assignment

Home:

Make your bed when you get up.

Brush your teeth and get dressed to the shoes.

Swish and swipe.

Fill your water bottle.

Have a 2 minute Hot Spot Fire Drill.

Start a load of laundry.

Pamper yourself for 15 minutes.

Reboot your laundry.

School:

Research field trips or supplemental activities you want to do during the school year.

Start each day with a happy heart and choose to be joyful no matter what happens.

Thursday – Set your timer for 15 minutes for the Home Assignment and 15 minutes for the School assignment

Home:

Make your bed when you get up.

Brush your teeth and get dressed to the shoes.

Swish and swipe.

Fill your water bottle.

Have a 2 minute Hot Spot Fire Drill.

Start a load of laundry.

Pamper yourself for 15 minutes.

School:

Put away books and check on your orders.

Read your homeschool encouragement book.

Purge another drawer in your child’s room for 15 minutes. Be sure to include them. The goal is to go through their drawers and closet before you start school. This will also give you time to make a list of items you might need to buy. I am always surprised at the end of the summer when I see how much the boys have grown.

Family Fun: Pick a water activity to do at home or go on a nature walk. Don’t forget to take your nature journals.